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Nicaraguan Mosquitia

Bocay River
Bocay River in Bosawas Biosphere Reserve
© Barry Tessman

The remote Nicaraguan Mosquitia is a vast area which contains intact Caribbean lowland forest and is also home to Miskito, Rama, Sumo indigenous groups and some Garífuna communities. The Nature Conservancy, together with its Nicaraguan partners, is working to protect the area's rich cultural and biological diversity.

In the Nicaraguan Mosquitia, the Conservancy's main work focuses on the 1.8 million acre Bosawas Biosphere Reserve which was declared an international biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 1997.
 
Location
The Nicaraguan Mosquitia is located in north-central Nicaragua and is separated from Honduras by the Coco River.

Animals
Although this area has received little scientific study, it is known to support significant populations of endangered species such as:

  • Baird's tapir
  • Jaguar
  • Harpy eagle

More than 215 bird species are found in Bosawas, including more than 100 species of North American migrants such as the wood thrush, cerulean warbler, and Canada warbler.
 
Plants
270 species of trees and bushes have been identified including such tree species as mahogany and Spanish cedar.

Children playing
Children playing along the Coco River
© Lynda Richardson
Why the Conservancy Works Here
The Honduran and Nicaraguan Mosquitia comprise more than five million acres of relatively intact tropical lowland forest but this area is increasingly threatened by colonization, the advancement of the agricultural frontier, and deforestation.

What the Conservancy Is Doing
The Honduran and Nicaraguan Mosquitia share similar ecological and socioeconomic characteristics as well as face common environmental threats.  This illustrates the need for a binational environmental agenda for the management and protection of the entire Mosquitia region. Recognizing this, in August 2002, a bi-national forum was conducted to advance cross-border discussions between local non-governmental organizations, governmental agencies, and local communities.

  • The Conservancy and partners are supporting indigenous communities in the Bosawas Reserve as they establish legal claim to their lands.

  • The Conservancy is working with local organizations to provide assistance in establishing an innovative community forest guard program to help protect the boundaries and natural resources of the Reserve.

  • The Nature Conservancy and local partners are training indigenous facilitators to lead community workshops where residents determine appropriate land uses for different zones of the reserve. Each of five communities has set rules for hunting, fishing and agriculture in their territory, and has met to create a reserve-wide management plan. The plan includes a core zone that is set aside for conservation. A final reserve management plan was presented to national, municipal and regional authorities for their approval.


Learn more about our work in the Honduran Mosquitia.